When Universal mounted its first test-screening of “Serenity” in Chatsworth, Calif., last month, everyone I spoke to in line seemed to know what they were seeing, even if they weren’t terribly familiar with its writer-director or the TV show on which the movie is based.
Now it looks like the studio arranged a second test-screening of Joss Whedon’s directorial debut Tuesday night in Ventura, Calif., but this time invited people who had no idea what they were seeing until they were in their seats.
Our reviewer counts himself as a Whedon fan, but says he didn’t much care for “Firefly” before he saw the movie. Now he’s keen to catch up with every episode.

Call him “Artie Dodger”:
What happens when a Whedon fan sees "Serenity" with the uninformed? FRUSTRATION!

The Century theater in Ventura held a secret screening last night. It turned out to be "Serenity". I was quite happy when the title was announced along with a few others who whooped and hollered but most had never heard of it. There were a few awkward chuckles. Meanwhile we were burning up in the theater and packed pretty tight. This was going to be tough crowd.

I absolutely loved the movie. I was not in love with the show before, but now I will be pulling the box set off the shelf and watching the 10 episodes I haven't seen.

The crown reaction seemed mixed. I heard laughs and cheers and one good scream during a scary part ... and a lot more laughter after that. I don't think most people were expecting sci-fi. Some of the women had a problem with the violence. Not me ... bring on the Reavers!!! Still I think a lot of non-Whedonites left pretty pissed off. I heard stuff like "waste of time", "worst movie ever" " why didn't they have laser?" ... blah blah blah... I'm sure they'll all line up to see "Constantine" with Keanu Reeves.

Joss, if you're listening, don't change the film based on these morons. Don't let the studio push you around. It's a great film. Mal, River, and the rest of the cast rocks!

Seconded! “Serenity” will never appeal to every demographic, but it's a precision-forged entertainment and certain to create legions of fiercely loyal advocates. If the studio tries to sand off its edges in a bid for universal appeal, there’s every chance it won’t appeal to anybody.
It launches into cinemas Sept. 30.

Yeah, I read this earlier this morning and it worries me. I am sure that the movie is great the way it is, but with as much importance as studios put on test screenings I am concerned that the studio will try to mess with the movie. Let Joss do his job Universal!!!!!

This pretty much sums up why I worry about this. People have been so biased over the years by ST & SW that they have unrealistic expectations of what things will be like in the future, and don't really get the reality portrayed in FF.

Hopefully the studio will see that the way Joss has created his future makes sense and is wonderfully crafted. Proper marketting can get around these kinds of issues, and hopefully they take that road instead of trying to change the movie to deal with it...

Part of the problem with screenings is the way they are set up. How many people REALLY go to the movies and see something they have never heard anything about before?

Trailers and buzz are important. They give people expectations and some idea of what they are going to see.

Still, that review worries me a little. But not much. There are always going to be people who are not going to like something. I am of the opinion that those that didn't like it had made up their minds within the first 30 minutes and had already decided not to give it a chance :).

I was reading some of the posts at "Ain't it Cool" and some of the Sci/Fi fans were the most critical of the show! What is up with that? I would think those are the people who would march out in droves to see the movie (well, next to the Whedonites.)

Quote:Originally posted by captaincdc:
I hate to lump a group of people together like this, but it has been my experience that the talkbackers on AICN are notoriously negative. So I'm not terribly surprised.

The only sovereign you can allow to rule you is reason!

I agree. I posted my general opinion of the AICN posters before (I think on a thread about the first screener review), but it amounts to being the worst the Internet has to offer. Trolling is just rampant there.

I think we're all forgetting an important fact. Most people are idiots. If Universal takes the attitude that immediate ticket sales are all that matter, then they'll have to give people what the expect. Anything else frightens and confuses them.

On the other hand, they may understand that stupid people are also very easily manipulated and choose to promote the movie well, trusting reviewers and critics to encourage the wary.

I remember seeing "This is Spinal Tap" the night it opened. It was amazing how badly the audience recieved the movie. I heard several people complaining as we left the theater. I think some of them didn't even realize it wasn't a real documentary. Obviously, the movie went on to put Rob Reiner on the map as a director. So, the idiots don't have to decide the fate of a movie.

Joss is tough. I'd never known much about him til after "Firefly", but he's impressed me as a person. To take a failed television series and turn it into a major movie take guts and determination. I don't think Joss will let them screw this up.

SergeantX

"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock

Genuinely, everything I've heard (mainly here) about Universal is that they have faith in Joss and they're excited about the movie as it is. I highly doubt they'll go back and ask Joss to change a bunch of stuff based on this audience. Remember the reviewer pointed that out...he never said that everyone reacted that way. And while it's important to the studio to get new viewers into theatres in September, I think a whole lot of them will come from existing fans who bring friends.

Joss has said that the BDM will be able to be enjoyed by people who know Firefly and by those who do not. Perhaps the intent of this screening was to get a better sense of how well the film accomplishes this. Perhaps they were less concerned about whether people liked the film as much as whether they could follow it without a background of fanatical devotion to the TV show. It may lead to small tweaks to make sure that anyone can understand the film.

May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.

I wouldn't be too discouraged by this review. From the sound of it, the writer had never bothered to watch more than a couple of episodes of the series, but by the time it was over he was convinced to go out and watch the DVD set. That in itself could be a good indicator that it will make many who see it want to go out and pick up a box set and check out Firefly.

Sure some people didn't like. So what? Not everyone is going to get Serenity, that is a sad fact, but a fact nonetheless. Some people simply don't like sci fi, and some people want lasers and huge space battles ala Star Wars in their sci fi films. Some people don't want anything cerebral in their movies, they just want action and T&A. We all know that Serenity will not appeal to everyone, but the important fact is it will appeal to enough people to convince 'Versal to do sequels.

I for one believe that Serenity will do better than what the Powers That Be are hoping for when it hits theatres. With all the new Browncoats that keep showing up, our guerilla marketing campaigns, the DVD box set, and the marketing plan that Joss & 'Versal are working on, I think the future looks very shiny indeed.

Chins up Browncoats. Keep Flyin'!

__________________________________________

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

this doesnt mean much, but remeber there are alot of Firefly/ Wedon fans out there that are going to check this out. and i think the film is really marketed towards them. this film was made in part because of the great dvd sales and the great fan support.
although, it would be pretty helpful for all us firefly fans to chime in the talkbacks on sites like AICN and let everyone know why we love the show so much and why we're going to see it and why we'll buy the DVD when it comes out. gotta keep building that buzz.

these screenings could be to weigh decisions on how to market/promote the movie as well as to gauge viewer reaction. Proper promotion in trailers, etc. can get viewers prepared to see sci-fi with guns instead of laser guns

can't you see trailers with a voice-over something like Mal's broadcast voice-over intro and features some great action and F/X from the movie? show Zoe and Jayne looking badass with their guns in there and nobody's expecting lasers.

the movie is not the Series. Only the facts have been changed, to irritate the innocent; the names of the actors and characters remain the same

Quote:Originally posted by benchcoat:
these screenings could be to weigh decisions on how to market/promote the movie as well as to gauge viewer reaction.
. . . snip . . .
show Zoe and Jayne looking badass with their guns in there and nobody's expecting lasers.

I was depressed by the review. Screenings cost money, and someone paid for this one. If it was Joss (out of his production budget), I'm not worried. He may change something but, if it's his idea, it will make the movie better -- he won't F*X it up. However, if Universal paid for it, it's because they expect to be able to exert some control on the basis of the results of the screening.

Claims that the movie can be a financial success & lead to sequels if it pleases Firefly fans, and neither we nor Joss nor Universal need to worry about the responses of others, are arithmetic-challenged to the point of denial. But your assessment, along with an earlier one pointing out that a blind screening is more likely intended for marketing than for editing, gives me hope.

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